Guyal Buckley

BUCKLEY, Guyal “Guy” B.

Guyal “Guy” Bruce Buckley died on Saturday, February 6^th, after a courageous battle with leukemia. He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Guyal was born on March 12^th, 1934 to Guyal and Agnes (Myren) Buckley on his grandparents farm in the small town of Hale, WI. He grew up in Alma Center, WI where he graduated from Lincoln High School.

Guyal had a distinguished twenty-year long career in the United States Air Force. “Buck” specialized in cryptographic maintenance with Top Secret and SSIR clearance. Guyal served on the front lines of the Cold War and was stationed in both Wiesbaden, Germany and Thule, Greenland, where during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S. Air Force Base was the primary warning system for NORAD.

After retiring from the Air Force, Guyal relocated to La Crosse, WI. In 1975, he married Joan Alberts (Biebel) and together raised seven children – Guyal’s three children and Joan’s four. Guyal worked as a United States Postal Service letter carrier in La Crosse for 24 years.

Guyal truly loved sports. When he was young, he was invited to spring training for the St. Louis Browns. “Buck” continued his athletic career in the service, winning multiple Base Championships in both baseball and basketball. His enthusiasm for sports led him to support his children by volunteering as a baseball and basketball coach in addition to being Athletic Director for St. Thomas More Catholic School.

Guyal was also an avid sportsman. He loved his fishing trips to Canada and hunting with his sons. He used sports as a way to grow even closer to his friends and family.

Guyal is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Linda (Gavin) Waldeck of Boerne, TX, son Guyal A. (Tammy) of Rosemount, MN and son David (Jennifer) of Georgetown, TX, daughters Susan (Mike) Konop and Molly Stenger and son Brian (Sherrie) Alberts all of La Crosse, WI and son Michael (Dawn) of Lakeville, MN, brother Jay of La Crosse, WI, 17 loving grandchildren and six great-grand children. Guyal is preceded in death by his parents Guyal and Agnes, sister Eileen (Rodney) Billerbeck and grandson Connor Alberts.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, February 9th, 2016, at Mary, Mother of the Church Parish Catholic Church, 2006 Weston St., La Crosse, Wis. Rev. Brian D. Konopa will officiate with military rites following the Mass by the US Air Force and the Roy L. Vingers American Legion Post 52. Family and friends may visit from 9:30AM until the time of Mass in Mary, Mother of the Church Parish on Tuesday. The final disposition will occur at the La Crosse Catholic Cemetery located at 519 Losey Boulevard South in La Crosse.

The Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorials are preferred to Mary, Mother of the Church Parish-Building Fund.